Why Read? Episode #32 Ft. A Buddhist Monk & Philip Chase

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for being such a wonderful host, as always, Johanna! I had a lovely time chatting with you and Lekden -- these are the sorts of discussions I love most, so I'm deeply grateful.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Philip! It's always an honor to have you as a guest! This was a wonderful discussion!

[@arockinsamsara]

Thanks for inviting me, I had a wonderful time! These kinds of comversations are wonderuflly fulfilling, and help me expand and settle into my appreciation for reading even more! Also, on a tangential note, I am kicking myself for not mentioning it (I blame the time) - while _Pet Sematary_ may be King's rawest exploration of grief, both _Lisey's Story_ and _Revival_ should be at the top of that list, too. The former is a little more fantastical, sometimes a little goofy, ands the latter is a slow burn of a story that not only highlights King's skill in character but also boasts one of his best endings.

[@Johanna_reads]

This makes me so happy to hear! I knew you would be a perfect guest for "Why Read?" and enjoyed getting to know you! Sounds like I should check out Lisey's Story and Revival! Would you ever consider making a Top 10 Favorite King novel list or discussing your favorites in a video? Only consider it if it sounds fun to you, but I would love to hear your ranking and retrospective of King's works!

[@arockinsamsara]

@@Johanna_reads They are both wonderful stories. Very different, but I really enjoyed them. I _have_ thoguht about doing some sort of SK list or discussion, but it is such a massive undertaking. I did re-read a lot of his work recently so most of the novels are pretty fresh, but still, he has almost 70 published novels/novellas... And I don't always excel at ranking things, I get too granular.... If I am motivated by some sort of unique or interesting way into it then I will do it... It is always in the back of my mind, so we will wait and see if inspiration strikes...

[@arockinsamsara]

@@Johanna_reads PS - I definitely recommend listening to episode 249 of the KingCast, a Stephen King podcast. The whole episode is exploring King's female characters and also a very interesting discussion about "that scene" from _It._ If I try to link to it here you may never see this comment, but search for the Kingcast podcast, and the episode you want is *"249: Taking A Closer Look At King’s Female Characters with Emily V. Gordon (ft Guest Co-Host Kate Siegel)"*

[@Johanna_reads]

@@arockinsamsara Thank you! I will look that up! As for a King video, you could consider multiple ones but a Top 10 novel list (excluding novellas and short stories which could be a separate list video) would save you from having to talk about all his books. It would just be your top 10 favorites and you don’t have to rank them. Just a thought! 😊

[@alexanderroxborough3777]

This is such a wonderful conversation. You are riffing so well off each other. The heart sutra come to mind.. " form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Or perhaps, emptiness is narative, narative is emptiness".

[@Johanna_reads]

Beautiful! I love that connection to narrative! Thanks for watching!

[@esmayrosalyne]

I was feeling a bit down this week so I went back in your catalogue of your livestreams for some comfort and saw I had somehow missed this one... SO glad I discovered it because this was such a wonderful and moving conversation. I especially loved the discussion on the queer representation, that was so eye-opening. Also, I really need to get better at keeping up with my Buddism reading, I feel like that mindful way of life is so beneficial for my mental health. Thanks for making this convo happen, Johanna! 🥰🥰

[@Johanna_reads]

I'm so happy you enjoyed this "Why Read?" discussion, Esmay! Thank you so much! ❤️❤️

[@jacrsherb]

What a fantastic conversation. I really enjoyed listening to Lekdens point of view. He’s quite clearly a very thoughtful and well read man! Thank you Johanna for getting him on

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed getting to know Lekden! I had a great time chatting with him and Philip in this one.

[@77otto77]

Love this so much. I’m also even more encouraged to read The Edan Trilogy!

[@Johanna_reads]

@@77otto77 thank you so much! I hope you enjoy The Edan Trilogy!

[@77otto77]

@@Johanna_reads Honestly, my favorite Why Read discussion so far. These guests are top notch! 🫶🏼

[@Johanna_reads]

@@77otto77 yay! I'm so happy you loved it! ❤️

[@Kaolein]

Amazing Episode with fantastic guests. Loved the conversation and books. Iam actually reading the first Farseer Trilogy of Robin Hobb and started book 2.

[@Johanna_reads]

@@Kaolein thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the rest of Farseer!

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

IMAGINATION. No other method of information/entertainment input provides as much room for imagination as reading does. Reading is key when activating the mind, getting to know yourself, your species and your environment. At some point when I have time I'll certainly binge on this fantastic and extremely pertinent series!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! I'd love to have you on the series someday if our time zones coordinate and you're open to it! 😊

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

@@Johanna_reads Aww, thank you so much, I'll love to hear more about it. I'll send my email to your goodreads inbox so this comment doesn't get deleted.

[@HellBoy-id6ss]

Damn this was a beautiful and amazing episode! Great work Johanna..

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much!

[@NerdyKathi]

Shame I missed the discussion on IT as it's one of my favourites but this was such a great discussion of varied topics.

[@Johanna_reads]

I'd love to hear more of your IT thoughts! I just posted a question about that controversial scene in the Fireside. Thanks for watching, Kathi!!

[@bartsbookspace]

Fantastic episode Johanna. I not only enjoyed listening, but also walked away having learned quite a bit. Btw, I was happy to hear Dispossessed mentioned, as I am rereading (30yrs?) it right now.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Bart! 💜 I started rereading The Dispossessed via audio but haven't gotten far. Not sure if I'll finish the reread with other commitments going on, but I still love the book!

[@minizeequeen711]

A buddhist monk!?!? Phillip Chase!?!? Gotta watch this!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!

[@thatsci-firogue]

Not religious (though like you, Johanna I was raised Catholic) and never had an incline towards spirituality but this was a fantastic discussion.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much!! I loved this one as well!

[@derrisreaditbefore]

I'm sad to have been unable to catch this live. This was a brilliant conversation that I absolutely would have engaged with in the comments. Between Lekden's enjoyment of the ❤Hobb ❤ he's read so far, the topic of inclusion vs erasure for alternative sexuality, into the experience of reading being different for everyone, and even to talking about Stephen King's It. FAN-TAS-TIC discussion. I'm raising my hand to be a part of any discussion around IT that you have. My credentials, like anything I'm prepared to talk about, is that I've read it *multiple* times, it's in the dozens. If you're not certain you want to host one, but want to discuss it anyway, Johanna (and Lekden and Philip) I'd love to have you!

[@derrisreaditbefore]

p.s. Thank you for introducing me to Lekden and his channel. I can see myself becoming an active fan on his page.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Derri! ❤️ I'm so happy you resonated with Lekden and this episode of "Why Read?" I feel like we covered a lot of important topics. I had no idea IT was a major reread book for you! I'm still trying to process my thoughts about that ending. 😅

[@KFoxtheGreat]

Ahh, I can't believe I had to go before you brought up The Dispossessed, Johanna!

[@KFoxtheGreat]

I still need to finish Malazan. I loved the first 2, but took a break because it was so emotionally demanding. I might restart the series and start taking more notes as I read.

[@Johanna_reads]

I felt sad that you left right before I got to it, but I'm glad you saw that part on replay. I had the book handy in preparation for bringing it up! Yes, you're speaking to my point about how emotionally taxing Malazan is rather than how intellectually complex it is. Not enough discussion about that! If it has been less than a year or two, I encourage you to read on without rereading. If more than that, I can understand a reread.

[@KFoxtheGreat]

@@Johanna_reads I'm glad you brought it up and hope both Philip and Lekden take your recommendation to heart! I absolutely agree about there needing to be more discussionon the emotional intensity of Malazan. I think part of the reason for my pause afterwards was because I simply wasn't prepared for how hard Deadhouse Gates hit me. I read it 2 and a half years ago. Maybe I can get away with watching a few discussion videos on the first two to refresh some of the details. I know some of it will be etched in my memory forever.

[@thefantasynuttwork]

I missed it! Damn

[@Johanna_reads]

It was a fun discussion!

[@marocat4749]

You dont need ever to be sure what to believe but you need to have an opinion and explore and test and check that opinion, and be open to be wrong if thats. Bu you dont need to be sure but have an opinion and be not afraid to confront and ajust and face wher eyou are wrong while having some belief in something. And wit hbelief i mean an opinion, something to be behind and test that not afraid to face being wrong and change if needed, and learn. But everything starts with an opinion and to test it and explore and grow. And knowing that ther ar people that know more than you is , basic humility, everyone has someone better, like homer in that simpson episode cam to realize with edison. also personally i think from near anything can be learned something.

[@Johanna_reads]

That might be true! :)

[@marocat4749]

Its a webtoon on mangadex more readable, but reccomand kubera the last god , thats kinda slow burnlike a book as, it was plannned as book. Also great eastern influences used while doing its own thin that, is actually fun, emotional and pretty deep too and it letts readers actually think about very different character philosophies. Also its still fun adventure drama, great characters and great mystery and fantasy. . ok hindu fantasy inspired isnt that often and thats, well done, if its own thing. I dont think most people believed literally in myths but kind of culturally accepted, yes we dont need to believe it but describe it us such, society have weird rituals that mak no sense without context that people agreed for some reason to do it so. And religion was always as much about community as beliefs, if not more. And people extragare, people use metaphors, people do that regulary (where fantasy and scifi are excelent mirror on that, terry pratchett my favourite, but a lot absurdist media in general, how we all are helly weird on social levels and thats fine if not tackling specific issues). Yes i agree fantasy and scifi is as real as any other , but its often truth through lies , if i had to describe shakespeare, as more distinct unrealistict makes it easier to look on reflections. And yeah zen riddles kinda do the same to reach an answer through realizing by thinking about a thing. And yeah fiction has the potential to become modern myths that societies accept a lot as cultural mythologies. I would dismiss to not mention Batman as example, or star trek, or , .... with even literally the same debates whats canon. Ok i will be not talking about beliefs as, thats not really the point but myths are kinda about something people agree that is so important to them they elevate it to myth. They dont have to litrerally belief it as it can be just a felt narrative truth even if peobably most know its fiction it hits real and means that much cultural. See Batman as example, batman definitly is a modern myth and inspiration, but ther is a lot. Or star trek that jokingly got a "church ot trek" joke because yeah culturalllxy it connected enough people has a philosophy even, that , i mean often people dont have to literally believe to connect wit hsomething or have it influence them. (enough catholics cough cough, are kinda so or so but are culturally) Things can be truth or resonant on very different levels or accepted. Like emotional truth doesnt mean its literally truth but still valid. And apearently is it what you want or think you want seems to be a major buddhist bit? The truth of the world or at least what matters vs what you can ignore and that.

[@Johanna_reads]

Pratchett was so good at social commentary! Religion has certainly been a pillar of community throughout history. Thanks for watching!